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walls shake！'〃
〃My dear Taee； I make all excuse for your unenlightened prejudices；
which every schoolboy educated in a Koom…Posh could easily controvert；
though he might not be so precociously learned in ancient history as you
appear to be。〃
〃I learned！ not a bit of it。 But would a schoolboy； educated in your
Koom…Posh； ask his great…great…grandfather or great…great…grandmother to
stand on his or her head with the feet uppermost？ And if the poor old
folks hesitated… say； 'What do you fear？… see how I do it！'〃
〃Taee； I disdain to argue with a child of your age。 I repeat； I make
allowances for your want of that culture which a Koom…Posh alone can
bestow。〃
〃I； in my turn；〃 answered Taee； with an air of the suave but lofty good
breeding which characterises his race； 〃not only make allowances for you
as not educated among the Vril…ya； but I entreat you to vouchsafe me your
pardon for the insufficient respect to the habits and opinions of so amiable
a Tish！〃
I ought before to have observed that I was commonly called Tish by
my host and his family； as being a polite and indeed a pet name； literally
signifying a small barbarian； the children apply it endearingly to the tame
species of Frog which they keep in their gardens。
We had now reached the banks of a lake； and Taee here paused to
97point out to me the ravages made in fields skirting it。 〃The enemy
certainly lies within these waters；〃 said Taee。 〃Observe what shoals of
fish are crowded together at the margin。 Even the great fishes with the
small ones； who are their habitual prey and who generally shun them； all
forget their instincts in the presence of a common destroyer。 This reptile
certainly must belong to the class of Krek…a； which are more devouring
than any other； and are said to be among the few surviving species of the
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world's dreadest inhabitants before the Ana were created。 The appetite of
a Krek is insatiable… it feeds alike upon vegetable and animal life； but for
the swift…footed creatures of the elk species it is too slow in its movements。
Its favourite dainty is an An when it can catch him unawares； and hence
the Ana destroy it relentlessly whenever it enters their dominion。 I have
heard that when our forefathers first cleared this country； these monsters；
and others like them； abounded； and； vril being then undiscovered； many
of our race were devoured。 It was impossible to exterminate them
wholly till that discovery which constitutes the power and sustains the
civilisation of our race。 But after the uses of vril became familiar to us；
all creatures inimical to us were soon annihilated。 Still； once a…year or so；
one of these enormous creatures wanders from the unreclaimed and savage
districts beyond； and within my memory one has seized upon a young Gy
who was bathing in this very lake。 Had she been on land and armed with
her staff； it would not have dared even to show itself； for； like all savage
creatures； the reptile has a marvellous instinct； which warns it against the
bearer of the vril wand。 How they teach their young to avoid him；
though seen for the first time； is one of those mysteries which you may ask
Zee to explain； for I cannot。*
* The reptile in this instinct does but resemble our wild birds and
animals； which will not come in reach of a man armed with a gun。 When
the electric wires were first put up； partridges struck against them in their
flight； and fell down wounded。 No younger generations of partridges
meet with a similar accident。
98So long as I stand here； the monster will not stir from its lurking…
place； but we must now decoy it forth。〃
〃Will that not be difficult？〃
〃Not at all。 Seat yourself yonder on that crag （about one hundred
yards from the bank）； while I retire to a distance。 In a short time the
reptile will catch sight or scent of you； and perceiving that you are no vril…
bearer； will come forth to devour you。 As soon as it is fairly out of the
water； it becomes my prey。〃
〃Do you mean to tell me that I am to be the decoy to that horrible
monster which could engulf me within its jaws in a second！ I beg to
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The Coming Race
decline。〃
The child laughed。 〃Fear nothing；〃 said he； 〃only sit still。〃
Instead of obeying the command； I made a bound； and was about to
take fairly to my heels； when Taee touched me slightly on the shoulder；
and； fixing his eyes steadily on mine； I was rooted to the spot。 All power
of volition left me。 Submissive to the infant's gesture； I followed him to
the crag he had indicated； and seated myself there in silence。 Most
readers have seen something of the effects of electro…biology； whether
genuine or spurious。 No professor of that doubtful craft had ever been
able to influence a thought or a movement of mine； but I was a mere
machine at the will of this terrible child。 Meanwhile he expanded his
wings； soared aloft； and alighted amidst a copse at the brow of a hill at
some distance。
I was alone； and turning my eyes with an indescribable sensation of
horror towards the lake； I kept them fixed on its water； spell…bound。 It
might be ten or fifteen minutes； to me it seemed ages； before the still
surface； gleaming under the lamplight； began to be agitated towards the
centre。 At the same time the shoals of fish near the margin evinced their
sense of the enemy's approach by splash and leap and bubbling circle。 I
could detect their hurried flight hither and thither； some even casting
themselves ashore。 A long； dark； 99undulous furrow came moving along
the waters； nearer and nearer； till the vast head of the reptile emerged… its
jaws bristling with fangs； and its dull eyes fixing themselves hungrily on
the spot where I sat motionless。 And now its fore feet were on the strand…
now its enormous breast； scaled on either side as in